"Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, exercise yourselves in these things."

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Molly Marshall is fresh out of graduate school, armed with a shiny new degree in journalism and ready to take over the world. There’s just one little problem: no one seems to care. Six months have passed since graduation and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t find a paying job in the field she’s spent years preparing to dominate. Stuck in a menial job she hates, plagued with memories of an abusive childhood, and engaged to a man she may no longer love, she’s running out of options and fast. When she stumbles across a long-kept secret, though, everything changes and she’s forced to make a choice. What will it be, her ambition or her heart? This standalone sequel to THE PARTITION OF AFRICA invites you to examine your thoughts on family, desire, and the nature of love itself.

stomach lurched, desire stirring within me like a sleeping monster, dormant but lethal. I

swallowed hard and looked down at my hands, pretending nothing had happened.

There was no use doing otherwise, because Gavin, while flexible on most things, had

one rule he would never, ever budge on. We couldn’t sleep together until we were

married.

Wondering where it all began?

The Partition of Africa tells the story of Hattie Greene, a serious-minded sophomore who always follows the rules. She earned her place at the prestigious Howard Knox College & University, and she intends to keep it. Much to the chagrin of her socialite roommate Claire, Hattie ignores the usual college activities in favor of focusing on her academic career. Hattie’s status as a perpetual good girl comes into question when Samson Campbell, a married professor with rugged good looks, enters the picture. He’s wrong for her on every level, but she can’t stay away. They enter an affair that threatens everything Hattie holds dear, causing her to question her very identity. All actions have consequences, and this is no exception. The heart wants what it wants. . .but what if the heart is wrong?

Olivia began writing creatively at eight years old. During middle and high school, she attended several writing conferences and submitted poems and short stories to various writing contests. She finished her first long work of fiction, a novella entitled Heaven’s Song, in the tenth grade. Her short story “By Its Cover” placed first in its division in the 2008 District III Alabama Penman Creative Writing Contest. She took a reprieve from writing during her years at the University of Montevallo, where she earned a degree in history in 2012. She finished and published her first novel, The Partition of Africa, in 2014.

Olivia currently lives in central Alabama with her husband, to whom she’s been wed since the age of twenty-two, and their cat, Buddy. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching quality television—The Office (US), Parks & Recreation, 30 Rock, and Friends are her favorites—and cooking without recipes. Along with working full-time at her alma mater and studying English at the graduate level, she is busy working on her next literary adventure.

Author InterviewWhen did you decide to become a writer?

I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was five years old. It was the first

book with chapters I managed to conquer alone, and through that experience I fell in love

with the written word. It didn’t take long to realize I wanted not only to enjoy the stories of

others, but to create my own as well.

Who encouraged you to pursue your dream?

When I started writing poems in the fourth grade, my teacher read them and recognized

my potential. She encouraged me to keep writing several times over the years, and when

The Partition of Africa was published, she bought a copy immediately. She, along with

other teachers, family members, mentors, and friends, are the reason I am here today.

What inspires you?

This will probably seem like a cop-out answer, but almost everything inspires me! My mind

tends to turn everyday happenings into crazy scenarios. For example, once at a previous

job, a strange man who seemed nervous asked me to point him in the direction of the

company’s credit union. Before I’d reached the end of the hall, my mind was already

reeling—what if he was robbing the credit union, and thanks to giving him directions, I was

now an accomplice? The plots for both of my books emerged from several long, drawn-out

“what-if” sessions.

Which authors have influenced you as a writer?

All of them! I jest only in part; almost every author I read has influenced me in one way or

another. Most notably, though, I would have to say C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K.

Enjoying a great treat is not just for kids on Halloween. Indulge yourself this week and read SEIZE THE NIGHT: NEW TALES OF VAMPIRIC TERROR, the new “stellar anthology of tales” (Publishers Weekly Starred Review), sure to quench your thirst for a Horrific Halloween read! Conjuring reactions such as “Going back to the heydays of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot” and “For anyone who likes tales of the creepy sort like Stephen King’s short stories in Everything’s Eventual or Nightmares & Dreamscapes,” how can one resist?

SEIZE THE NIGHT

Edited by Christopher Golden

Gallery Books

October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9781476783093

Trade Paperback

$18.00

Once upon a time, vampires were figures of terror…and they can be again. Legends of these dark creatures sprang from every corner of the world and infinite variations throughout history—with even more of them waiting in the farthest corners of the imagination. SEIZE THE NIGHTtakes hold of a popular culture environment where the vampire has largely lost its ability to inspire fear, and now brings out the dread, showcasing twenty all-new tales of horrifying evil from an extraordinary lineup of twenty contributors:

John Ajvide Lindqvist

Kelley Armstrong

Laird Barron

Gary A. Braunbeck

Dana Cameron

Dan Chaon and Lynda Barry

Charlaine Harris

Brian Keene

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Michael Koryta

John Langan

Tim Lebbon

Seanan McGuire

Joe McKinney

Leigh Perry

Robert Shearman

Scott Smith

Lucy A. Snyder

David Wellington

Rio Youers

The dusk is upon you, and your fright-filled journey to the shadows of the hereafter is about to begin with SEIZE THE NIGHT—old-school vampire fiction at its finest.

“The notion of the romantic vampire is transcended to chilling and even heartbreaking effect in this stellar anthology of tales…These stories move smoothly from the subtle to the horrifying…”

—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“Twenty stories of varying lengths offer quick bites of otherworldly entertainment. Edited by Christopher Golden, this collection takes vampire fiction back to its bloody, frightful roots. Readers looking for old-school horror laden with darkness will appreciate these diverse stories from some of the best writers in the genre…all are entertaining…With new spins on classic traditions and inventive, unexpected twists, it’s the perfect spooky read for Halloween — or any night that calls for a touch of terror.”

—RT Book Reviews

“The twenty-one authors collected in this volume have…succeeded in returning vampires and their ilk back into our nightmares where they belong…each tale delivered the goods. And by goods, I mean terror…These are not your Count Dracula vampire stories, but thankfully they’re not of the friendly variety either. What they all have in common is that each and every story is a cut above the ordinary. My highest recommendation.”

—Cemetery Dance

“Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror is a highly successful anthology, one that puts vampires back into the shadowy, hidden corners where they belong and makes them creepy, chilling, at times downright frightening…we’re getting back to the old-school roots of vampiric lore, going back to the heydays of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot…this is a vital return to form for these stoic, and historic, universal baddies…Seize the Night has the singular aim of making vampires terrifying again, and it heartily succeeds in its mission. Golden and the contributors deserve a fair amount of applause for their work here, and this anthology is a wonderful reminder of what made vampires such a popular horror staple, and why they continue to endure across the ages.”

—Michael Patrick Hicks

“Anthologies have always been one of my favorite things. A chance to read old favorite authors and a chance to also find some new favorites as well, all based on some short stories. Which is, of course, why I chose to read Seize the Night – New Tales of Vampiric Terror…Seize The Night –New Tales of Vampiric Terror is slated to be released on October 6, 2015. Be sure to get your copy before they disappear! Anyone who likes tales of the creepy sort like Stephen King’s short stories in Everything’s Eventual or Nightmares & Dreamscapes should check out Seize the Night.”

—The Goth Girl Reads

“…a diverse and high quality collection of new stories from some great names within the horror and paranormal sub-genres…Quite simply, if you are a fan of vampires, do not miss this one. 4 Throbbing Carotid Arteries for Seize The Night.”

—Horror After Dark

“Sink your teeth into this collection with caution, it'll bite back.”

—Hardboiled Wonderland

“I would really recommend this wonderful book to anyone who wants to read a vampire anthology that harks back to the heyday of quality horror fiction.”

—Book Nutter’s Reviews

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seize The Night…well-written with plenty of frights to keep any horror fan awake at night.”

—Coffee Addicted Writer

“I really prefer my vampires evil, so this anthology was just what I was looking for. It opens with a novelette by Scott Smith, and that one story is worth the price of the book. The victims are suitably disgusting and deserve their fate, which is rapid and brutal. Michael Koryta suggests a rather different cause for vampirism. Charlaine Harris has a very nice story about an energy vampire rather than a blood drinking one. Kelley Armstrong suggests there is a genetic marker for vampirism. Tim Lebbon takes us back to a particularly brutal period of history for his story. John Langan presents a time traveling vampire that can duplicate bodies to ensure it has a steady source of prey…well above average.”

—Don A’mmassa On Horror

“…Brings out the dead and dread, showcasing 20 all-new tales of horrifying evil from a coffin full of different writers who dabble in the undead from various angles, from horrific to heart-wrenching, romantic to rough. We especially feasted on Rio Youers’ “Separator”, set in a typhoon-devastated Philippines where a land developer gets a brutal taste of local legend. Ouch!”

—Examiner.com – A Tricky Treat for Fright Night

“I honestly had nightmares reading this anthology, which is a first for me, and found the writing samples to be strong and powerful tales that twisted an already frightening lore. I definitely recommended reading Seize The Night as a Halloween novel. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy horror, frightening tales, anthologies and short stories, gruesome and violent vampires. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading Seize The Night if you are a horror fan or a supporter of real, gritty vampire novels without the romanticism and moral questions.”

—Silk & Serif

“Now, from some of the biggest names in horror and dark fiction, comes this collection of short stories that make vampires frightening once again.”

—Bookgasm – Halloween-Ready New Release Awaiting You to Treat Yourself

About the Editor:

Christopher Golden is the #1 New York Times bestselling and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Snowblind, Tin Men, Of Saints and Shadows, and The Boys Are Back in Town. His novel with Mike Mignola, Baltimore; or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, was the launching pad for the Eisner Award-nominated comic book series Baltimore. As an editor, he has compiled the short story anthologies The New Dead, The Monster’s Corner, and Dark Duets, among others, and has also written and co-written numerous comic books, video games, and screenplays. Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at christophergolden.com.

Red finally feels like she's moving forward in life. She's got everything she ever wanted. She snagged the man of her dreams, her best friend Gavin, and her acceptance to medical school, all in the same summer.

Smiling brightly as she steps onto the plane to California, Jersey girl Red, knows it will be hard to be away from everyone she knows and loves, especially Gavin. But that’s okay, because they’re young and in love, and that’s enough…until it isn’t.

Three thousand miles from home, with no friends or family around her, she has to figure it out. With distractions around her at every turn, she has to decide what’s best for her. Will she stay the course, or will she be Distracted?

*Author Note*Distracted is not a standalone. Distractions, book #1 must be read first.

Other Books in the Distractions Series...

Synopsis: Red has been trying to move on with her life. She really has. Her first real relationship ended in disaster and she can’t muster the energy to leave the house. Her brother Brenden and their best friend, Gavin, are sick of it. Guilting her into a night out, Red reluctantly agrees only to see her ex having the time of his life with another girl. Small town living would have it no other way. On the verge of a full blown panic attack, Gavin steps in to provide Red the distraction she needs to forget all about her ex. But as things quickly spiral out of control, will Red be able to keep her feelings for her best friend a secret in order to save their friendship?

*This book contains sexual situations and explicit language. This is Book 1 of the Distractions Series.

About Bianca Dean

Bianca Dean, author of Quarterback Sneak and Wanna Play? is a native of New Jersey now living in NYC. Working on her PhD, Bianca loves good food, great movies and stimulating conversation. She's a huge sports fan, and can be found, during the appropriate season, screaming at the television, beer in hand, trying to make people that can't hear her run faster. In the off-season she can be spotted walking her dog or grabbing dinner with friends.

As the heart-pounding Chasing Fire
trilogy concludes, a dangerous entanglement leaves Hudson and Allie wondering
how much they're willing to risk for the love they can't live without...

There's
almost nothing Alessandra Sinclair wouldn't do for Hudson Chase. He was her
first love, and she's determined that he'll be her last. But when the terrible
truth Hudson has been hiding comes to light, Allie finds herself caught in a
deadly game of cat and mouse with a man from her past who's determined to use
what he knows to ruin Hudson. Now, the only way to save the man she loves may
be to lose him forever...

Hudson
has always known that the secrets he keeps could be his downfall, but he never
expected them to put Allie's life in danger as well. It's time for him to come
clean--before everything he's ever wanted is destroyed...

Includes previews of REMIND ME and
RELEASE ME, the first two books of the Chasing Fire trilogy.

Praise for the Chasing Fire trilogy

"Exceptional...Seriously sexy and sinfully steamy. Can't wait for more from this writing duo!"--New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me

"Walker and Rogers strike the perfect balance between blistering physical desire and heartfelt connections..."--RT Book Review

Hudson stood with his back to her, his phone pressed to his ear as he stared out across the river to the lake, barely visible through the gray January fog. His tall, muscular frame filled the window of the small office, dominating the space just as he did the world below them. Nearly all of Chicago seemed his for the taking, and yet he’d made it clear that the only thing he wanted was her. And the attraction was more than just physical. It was an inexplicable pull they’d both felt from the very start, a yearning so strong it not only defied the odds, but logic and reason as well. With everything that hung in the balance, the two of them needed to keep their distance. Yet no matter what new development had brought him there, and what risk he was taking, there was no denying the thrill that shot through her just from being in the same room with him

Though thousands of miles apart, Ann
Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines
and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British
supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and
@Amy_KRogers.

The
third sexy and emotional novel in debut Avon author Lia Riley’s Brightwater
series set in the mountains of Northern California

Sometimes
the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…

Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once
reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic
accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated
cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the
fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a
mistake.

After her Hollywood life went up in
smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and returned to
Brightwater to care for her ailing father. Spending her days in a small
bookstore, her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man.
Quinn is determined to not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s
experienced the heat of his passions.

But when an arsonist targets the
community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will
his desire for Quinn flameout or will he be able to tame the wildness inside
and rekindle a hope for their future?

Excerpt:

It had been a while since he’d been in the company of any
woman who wasn’t a medical professional or intimately involved with his
brothers. Also, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had a type and this
forward, strong-looking woman fit it right down to that thick wavy brown hair
pulled back at the nape of her long sexy neck.

Necks were underrated female geography. He loved how they
tasted when he kissed them there, how they smelled as he nuzzled.

Equally fascinating was her lush mouth, how the corner
remained quirked on one side despite the natural pout, as if in perpetual
secret amusement.

This woman was bright, spunky, and happy, despite her
father’s miserable situation. His heart sank. He had nothing to offer someone
like her, not when his whole world had burned to a cinder.

He shook himself inwardly, not moving a muscle. No point
succumbing to the ugly truth, however true.

Maybe he could pretend to be a
normal guy for the night. Normal except for the scars, the missing leg, and the
fact he hadn’t spoken to a living soul since Sawyer dropped off his groceries
six days ago, and was tongue-tied around strangers at the best of times.

Shit.

What would Archer do? His younger brother was good with
people, especially the ladies. He’d navigate this situation like a pro.

She gave him a tentative smile, probably because he was
staring at her like a loon.

Compliments. Women
like compliments.

“Your teeth are real white,” Wilder blurted. Goddamn it, the
words hung over them like a comic strip balloon. He wished for a string to grab
on to, so he could stuff the idiocy back into his mouth, swallow it down.

“Excuse me?” Her shoulders jerked as her lips clamped,
clearly not anticipating the awkward flattery.

At least he hadn’t said how much he liked her neck. Yet.

Damn,
this was a mistake. He wasn’t good with people. Didn’t like people. Didn’t need
people.

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of
Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.